N. Colorado secession results: 6 of 11 counties vote ‘no’

N. Colorado secession results: 6 of 11 counties vote ‘no’

DENVER — Following the Democrats’ dominance during the 2013 legislative session, a group of Weld County Commissioners weighed an idea: what if their county, and possibly others, were to secede and form a 51st state?

It turns out six of the 11 counties voting on the proposal turned it down.

While Democrats mocked the proposal as silly — and it’s worth noting the last instance of secession was West Virginia in 1863 — the idea has taken root in the rural corners of the state, where many residents are coming to grips with the changing demographics of the state and the fact that a majority of the electorate, and as a result the state legislature, no longer represents their ideals and values.

Even if the secession questions had drawn support from a majority of voters in those counties, the legislature, which is still controlled by Democrats, would have to vote to allow them to leave. After that, Congress would have to agree to admit a new state.

Democrats have tried to tarnish statewide Republican candidates from the counties voting on secession; thus far, U.S. Senate candidate Ken Buck, a Weld County resident, and state Sen. Greg Brophy, a gubernatorial candidate hailing from Yuma County, have both stated that they’re voting no.

But both have also sought to portray the secession votes as a referendum on Hickenlooper and Colorado Democrats — and that, more than anything else, is what they probably are.

c j reid

kmrtag

We all have to come to grips that the bigger cities are going to rule for the state whether or not rural counties like it,there needs to be split of 50 50 so that 1 part of the state rules another part of a state.

Joan Rhodes

In 4 months you have enough people who looked at a new state in with 43% voting for it, that we need to really look at the feelings of rural committees. Start making us feel that we are part of the state and not like we are the stepchild and just need to hide in the Connor. Many of us hold BS degrees and still are talked down to. Wake up. This is not the end of the push and it wont be going away soon.